Thai, Quiban catch Gialon on top amid heavy downpour

Thai Pasavee Lertvilai shot a gutsy 73 in exacting condition while Justin Quiban rallied with three straight birdies from No. 14 to save a 74 as they caught a faltering Zanieboy Gialon at the helm in the rain-hit third round of the ICTSI Wack Wack Championship at WW East course yesterday.

With the wind finally blowing and adding to the challenge at the tight, challenging layout, pars and bogeys proved to be the norm although Lertvilai, Quiban and Gialon came through with late birdies to force a three-way tie at one-under 215, guaranteeing a wild, wooly finish in the $100,000 championship put up by ICTSI.

Tony Lascuña, five behind Gialon after 36 holes, made it a four-way battle for the top $17,500 purse in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. as he pooled a 216 after a 73. The many-time Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit winner actually grabbed a piece of the lead at two-under overall despite an even par card through 17 holes but bogeyed the par-4 18th for the second straight day.

“I’m still at it anyway. No lead is safe here at WW East and it’s going to be anybody’s race tomorrow (today),” said Lascuña.

American Nicolas Paez fired one of the day’s three best scores of 71 to force another three-way tie for fifth at 218, just three shots off the pace, with James Ryan Lam and obscured Rolando Marabe Jr. turning in 72 and 73, respectively.